Chrysanthemum plant named &#39;dazzling yostacy&#39;

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Dazzling Yostacy’, characterizedby itsuprightplanthabit; freely branching growth habit; uniform and freely flowering habit; daisy-type inflorescences; and red and yellow bi-colored ray florets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum×morifolium andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Dazzling Yostacy’.

[0002] The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Salinas, Calif. and Fort Myers, Fla. Theobjective of the breeding program is to create new garden-typeChrysanthemum cultivars having inflorescences with desirableinflorescence forms, attractive floret colors and good gardenperformance.

[0003] The new Chrysanthemum is a naturally-occurring whole plantmutation of a proprietary induced mutation that originated by exposingunrooted cuttings ofthe Chrysanthemum cultivar Stacy, disclosed in U.S.Plant patent application Ser. No. 09/225,015, to X-ray radiation inMarch, 1997, in Fort Myers, Fla. The new Chrysanthemum was discoveredand selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within apopulation of flowering plants of the irradiated selection in October,1997 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif. The selection ofthis plant was based on its desirable inflorescence form, attractive rayfloret color and good garden performance.

[0004] Asexual reproduction ofthe new cultivar by terminal cuttingstaken in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif. since December,1997, has shown that the unique features ofthis new Chrysanthemum arestable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The cultivar Dazzling Yostacy has not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

[0006] The following traits have been repeatedly observed and aredetermined to be the unique characteristics of‘Dazzling Yostacy’. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘Dazzling Yostacy’ as a newand distinct cultivar:

[0007] 1. Upright plant habit.

[0008] 2. Freely branching, dense, full plants.

[0009] 3. Uniform and freely flowering.

[0010] 4. Daisy-type inflorescences.

[0011] 5. Yellow and red bi-colored ray florets.

[0012] Compared to plants of the cultivar Stacy, plants of the newChrysanthemum flower slightly later and differ in ray floret color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

[0013] The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance ofthe new Chrysanthemum. These photographs show the colors as true as itis reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Chrysanthemum. The photograph at the top of thesheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of‘Dazzling Yostacy’. The photograph at the bottom ofthe sheet comprises aclose-up view of typical inflorescences of the cultivar ‘DazzlingYostacy’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0014] In the following description, color references are made to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe plants grown in Salinas, Calif., underconditions which approximate those generally used in commercial gardenChrysanthemum production. One rooted cutting was planted in a 15-cmcontainer in July, 2000 and plants were grown under natural seasonconditions. Plants were not pinched, that is, the terminal apex was notremoved to enhance branching. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages for typical flowering plants.

[0015] Botanical Classification: Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivarDazzling Yostacy.

[0016] Commercial Classification: Daisy-type garden Chrysanthemum.

[0017] Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of aproprietary Chrysanthemum×morifolium induced mutation, not patented.

[0018] Propagation:

[0019]Type.—Terminal tip cuttings.

[0020]Time to initiate roots.—About four days at 21° C.

[0021]Time to produce a rooted cutting.—About ten days at 21° C.

[0022]Root description.—White, fine and fibrous.

[0023]Rooting habit.—Freely branching.

[0024] Plant Decsription:

[0025]Appearance.—Perennial herbaceous daisy-type garden Chrysanthemum.Inverted triangle; upright plant form. Stems initially upright, thensomewhat outwardly spreading giving a uniformly mounded appearance tothe plant. Freely branching with about 8 lateral branches per plant.

[0026]Plant height.—About 20 cm.

[0027]Plant diameter.—About 25 cm.

[0028]Lateral branches.—Length: About 17 cm. Diameter: About 4.5 mm.Internode length: About 1.6 cm. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture:Pubescent. Color: 146A, overlain with anthocyanin, close to 187A, mostprominent at the nodes.

[0029]Foliage description.—Leaf arrangement: Alternate. Length: About4.7 cm. Width: About 3.7 cm. Apex: Cuspidate to mucronate. Base:Attenuate. Margin: Palmately lobed, sinuses mostly divergent. Texture:Both surfaces, pubescent; veins prominent on lower surface. Color: Youngfoliage upper surface: 147A. Young foliage lower surface: 147B. Maturefoliage upper surface: 147A. Mature foliage lower surface: 147B.Venation upper surface: 147B. Venation lower surface: 146B. Petiolelength: About 1.6 cm. Petiole diameter: About 2 mm. Petiole color, bothsurfaces: 146B to 146C.

[0030] Inflorescence Description:

[0031]Appearance.—Daisy-type inflorescence form with elongatedoblong-shaped ray florets. Inflorescences borne on terminals abovefoliage, arising from leaf axils. Disk and ray florets arrangedacropetally on a capitulum. About 15 inflorescences per lateral; about120 inflorescences per plant.

[0032]Flowering response.—Under natural season conditions, plants flowerin mid to late September in the Northern Hemisphere and continue toflower for at least three weeks depending on weather conditions.

[0033]Inflorescence bud (before showing color).—Height: About 5 mm.Diameter: About 7 mm. Phyllary color: 143A.

[0034]Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 4.6 cm. Depth (height): About1.1 cm. Disc diameter: About 1.3 cm. Receptacle diameter: About 5 mm.

[0035]Ray florets.—Shape: Elongated oblong. Length: About 2.2 cm.Corolla tube length: About 4 mm. Width: About 5 mm. Apex: Acute,emarginate or dentate. Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth, glabrous,satiny. Orientation: Initially upright and concave, then perpendicularto the peduncle and slightly convex. Number of ray florets perinflorescence: About 63 in two to three rows. Color: When opening, uppersurface: Towards apex: 46A to 53A. Mid-section: Longitudinal stripes of46A to 53A and longitudinal stripes of 9A, alternating. Towards base:Yellow, 9A. When opening, lower surface: Towards apex: 9A underlain with59A. Mid-section: Longitudinal stripes of 9A underlain with 59A andlongitudinal stripes of 9A, alternating. Towards base: 9A. Openedinflorescence, upper surface: Towards apex: 46A to 53A. Mid-section:Longitudinal stripes of 46A to 53A and longitudinal stripes of 9A,alternating. Towards base: 9A. Opened inflorescence, lower surface:Towards apex: 9B underlain with 59A. Mid-section: Longitudinal stripesof 9B underlain with 59A and longitudinal stripes of 9B, alternating.Towards base: 9B.

[0036]Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular, apex dentate. Length: About 5.5 mm.Width: Apex: About 2 mm. Base: About 1 mm. Number of disc florets perinflorescence: About 91. Color: Immature: 144A to 145A. Mature: Apex: 9Ato 12A. Mid-section: 154D. Base: 144D.

[0037]Peduncle.—Aspect: Flexible, angled about 50 to 55° from the stem.Length: First peduncle: About 4.6 cm. Fourth peduncle: About 6.1 cm.Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 146A.

[0038]Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets only.Anther color: 15A. Pollen: None. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and discflorets.

[0039]Seed.—Seed production has not been observed.

[0040] Disease Resistance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not beenshown to be resistant to pathogens common to Chrysanthemums.

[0041] Garden Performance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have beenobserved to be tolerant to rain and wind.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plantnamed ‘Dazzling Yostacy’, as illustrated and described.